"Lack of reassurance in Hull A&E"

My dad was taken into A&E with chronic head and back pain. He was in agony and it was very hard for my mum and me to watch. After a 2 hour wait he was given morphine for the pain which did relieve his pain. What shocked my mum and myself was the lack of communication between staff and patient/relatives. We were left for hours not knowing what was happening. My dad was taken for a scan and later a CT scan - again no one explained what the tests were or how long results would take.

My dad was in a small room on the A&E in which there was a bottle of someone else's urine left without a lid on. I eventually asked for it to be removed. My dad vomited and a nurse came and helped him change. The vomit had gone onto the floor and the nurse just wiped it with tissue using her shoe. We didn't feel this was very hygienic.

Several staff entered my dad's room without knocking to warn they were about to enter. One nurse I felt was very rude as my dad had finally got to sleep and some much needed break from his pain and the nurse came in and quickly he was taken onto the bright ward without them waiting for him to wake up so they could explain where he was going, the nurse just abruptly told him to put his arm in as it would get knocked. My dad woke up en route and looked shocked. I am appalled that someone who is feeling so poorly can be treated like this. I know how overstretched the nurses and doctors are but its the little touches of human kindness that seem to be severely lacking.

Later my dad went to the acute assessment ward where he was still on a trolley bed, which his legs were too long for. We assumed he would be found a bed but was later told he would be spending the night on this trolley bed (we desperately wished we could take him home). Again there was very little communication and my mum said "it's like being invisible". Often patients were referred to as bed numbers and not people.

My dad asked for water which didn't come and a cup of tea later which again didn't come. We had been at the hospital since 2pm and by 9pm no member of staff had asked if he needed the loo (as he couldn't walk without support he couldn't go on his own). When the night staff came on they did seem a bit more friendly and a tea and snacks trolley came around at 8pm.

We left at 9pm worried how my dad would be treated overnight. He didn't have a buzzer on his trolley so would have to shout if he required any assistance.

We dont know what is wrong with my dad but I know and feel that there was no "TLC" and kindness waiting for him at the hospital. Again I understand that the medical staff are very busy but I feel that an auxilliary could communicate progress and check on patients more often, rather than them being left feeling scared and invisible. My dad said this morning that he felt terrified. I hate to think how patients feel who have no familiy or friends there to support them on entry into hospital. I am hoping that if and when he goes to a ward he will be kept more informed and comfortable.

We didn't feel able to complain as we didn't want to compromise my dad's care.